Dress Gray (1986) User Reviews

For 1986 this was daring

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 4 May 2005]

A new student named David Hand (Patrick Cassidy) is found murdered at the Grant Military Academy. They discover that he had sex with another man before he died. It also turns out he was in love with Rysam Slaight (Alec Baldwin) who is straight...and innocent. But the academy is trying to charge him. Then Hands' sister comes to investigate...

It may seem very tame today, but on TV in the late 1980s, gay characters didn't exist. The only reason this made it on was probably that the gay men in this are "punished" (like Hand) or hate themselves for what they did. Still, for TV, they're portrayed pretty sensitively. But the subject is tiptoed around. People talk and talk and TALK about it till you're ready to scream. Also this movie runs OVER 3 hours! There's no need for it to go that long.

Still it is well written with good performances--especially By Baldwin who was still unknown at this point. So it's kind of worth watching...but have your finger on the fast forward button through some of the endless talking. I give it a 7.

Engaging Whodunit

[Lechuguilla · 9/10 · 28 December 2004]

In this 1986 whodunit, the death of a cadet at a U.S. military academy provides the basis for a story dealing with repressed homosexuality. The screenplay has great misdirection. You think the plot is headed one way, only to find at the end that it was headed in the opposite direction. Clues to the crime's solution are provided, but as with any good murder mystery, they are subtle and hard to find.

The acting ranges from good to excellent. {Hal Holbrook gives his usual, and endearing, deep-throated raspy voice performance). Production values are high. And the music is suitably eerie. Cinematography is quite good, and the film's ending has an Oliver Stone "JFK" feel to it, a sense that you are privy to the revelation of a cover-up (at the highest levels of course).

My only complaint is the verbose script. They could have cut back the forty thousand page screenplay considerably, without doing harm to the overall story. Nevertheless, "Dress Gray" is a well-crafted film, with an engaging plot that would, in my opinion, be of interest to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.

First-rate U.S. miniseries, a gripping murder thriller set in a military academy

[robert-temple-1 · 10/10 · 9 August 2010]

This is a highly superior TV miniseries which has never been on DVD and can only be seen on old video copies. It is based upon a best-selling novel about scandal, murder and cover-up inside a military academy in the 1960s, at the time of the Vietnam War, written by Lucian Truscott IV, grandson of World War II General Lucian Truscott Jr. It all rings very true indeed, and the script is taut and brilliant, written by none other than Gore Vidal. The plot is complex and highly textured. The outstanding performance in the film is by the amazing Hal Holbrook as the Commandant of Cadets in the Academy, General Hedges. Rarely has the brilliant Holbrook had the opportunity to take so much screen time to develop the depth of character we see here. Hedges is a scheming, relentless, conspiratorial, cunning, and extreme believer in 'the system', and the need at all costs to keep all scandal under wraps. Alec Baldwin plays the cadet with a conscience who confront Hedges, in a true David versus Goliath saga of one lone cadet against all the power the system can muster, in his struggle to reveal the truth about the murder of another cadet. Strangely, this intensely male movie was directed by a woman director, Glenn Jordan. I think that may have given it a special dimension, as she sees all that male bonding and shouting and bulging of biceps and coursing of testosterone as something peculiar, and takes a step back to look at it properly. Most male directors would have taken it for granted, as wallpaper. Jordan keeps a highly professional pace throughout this tortuous plot, and sees to it that we do not lose our way with the plethora of characters and endless possibilities as to what might really have happened. She rightly concentrates more on the system and the cover-up than on the crime itself. In this story, whodunit is not the point, but rather will justice triumph or will the lone cadet win his struggle, especially when his own life is seriously at risk. It is strong stuff, set in an unusual milieu which we rarely see and think about even less. All that saluting and standing to attention and then at ease and the uniform known as 'dress gray' (source of the title), the medals, the posturing of the officers, the intrigues, the hierarchical battles, the pomposity, the abuses of power, the false appeals to 'national security' to justify the unjustifiable, smother the truth, and cover up anything nasty, it is all pretty overwhelming. The miniseries is so riveting that you cannot turn it off, you have to see it in one sitting. It is that gripping. Alec Baldwin gives a fabulous performance as the brave cadet. Susan Hess, who vanished off most screens long ago, is just right as the girl friend and has a special charm of her own. Lloyd Bridges gives his usual solid presence to the role of the Superintendent. Eddie Albert is maybe not the right choice for the powerful 'honorary judge' who 'owns Louisiana', but he does OK. Lane Smith is magnificently unctuous as a toady colonel who will suppress anything with a sly grin, and whose highest aim is to be a smoothly functioning cog in the system. This film is more relevant now than when it was made, since more of this goes on today than then, and the invoking of phoney national security concerns has now become institutionalised to such an extent that we can see that this film was way ahead of its time in addressing that problem in a serious manner. The underlying message of this miniseries is profound, and was brought well to the surface by Gore Vidal's pointed dialogue and structuring of the scenes in his excellent script.

The Age Of Search And Eliminate

[bkoganbing · 9/10 · 14 November 2010]

Lucian K. Truscott IV, scion of a military family, who went into writing and radical politics penned the novel from which Gore Vidal wrote a brilliant screenplay. Closeted gay men will identify with the murder victim and the devastating effects on the psyche that the closet can have.

Patrick Cassidy plays a plebe at U.S. Grant Military Academy which is West Point in all, but name is a closeted gay man who is hardly a typical stereotype. He's a champion athlete in high school who is the son of Eddie Albert one of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in the state of Louisiana. He's also a total top and when someone he's involved with bottoms him, he has to be killed strictly as a matter of self defense. The body is found in the Hudson River.

Ron Rifkin who is the Academy physician conducts an autopsy on Cassidy and lets slip to Alec Baldwin another cadet who happens to have been involved with Cassidy's sister Susan Hess that he thinks this could be murder after Baldwin tells him that Cassidy was an excellent swimmer. That's a leak that sprung unfortunately when Deputy Commander of the Academy Hal Holbrook and his hatchet man Lane Smith decide to cover up the murder and say it was an accidental drowning.

This television film made in 1986 and set in the Sixties before Stonewall has an exceptional relevancy today. Back then being gay was the most god awful taboo there was. If you risked admitting it, you had an automatic exemption from the service that clung to you like a disease if you wanted to enter any other professions where being gay was similarly frowned upon. As we are now trying to get rid of the military policy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' it would do well to remember that the implementation of that by the Clinton administration was a reluctant compromise and a lessening of the ages old military policy of search and eliminate.

As for Holbrook just the thought of the fact that the U.S. Grant Military Academy ever even had one of those kind of people as a cadet is an anathema to him. When Baldwin insists on digging at the behest of Susan Hess and his own sense of honor about the truth willing out, Holbrook becomes his enemy and is ready to hang Baldwin with that self same honor code.

Holbrook is indeed a sinister figure, but Eddie Albert who in his career played an astonishing variety of roles is just as sinister here. He wants to know the truth, except if his son turns out to have been gay. At that point he's all for shoving Cassidy's corpse back into the closet.

Even with such veteran pros in the cast as Albert, Holbrook, Lloyd Bridges as the school's commandant and Alexis Smith as Baldwin's mother, the best performance in the lot is that of Patrick Cassidy. He gives a riveting portrayal in flashback of a closeted gay man trying to enter a most macho profession and the devastating effects of the closet.

The lives of the people shown in Dress Gray are the best argument you could make for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and allowing GLBTQ people to serve openly in the military. This film ought to be required viewing for the members of Congress.

Gore Vidal Makes Interesting Points

[alicecbr · 30 November 1999]

Is it true that a homosexual is courting danger when he attempts to seduce a straight guy? Interesting premise, and that is certainly so in this 2-tape movie. Well acted by all concerned and the dialogue is dynamite!!

Comments like "Most of these cadets (poorly disguised West Point cadets) are children of judges back home" straight out depict the truth behind the facade of respectability and equality. Reminders of the cheating scandals at all the military academies are also brought up lest we forget. Despite that, the ending is upbeat and made me strangely proud of my country.

Of course, I'm a sucker for a marching set of uniforms and for some insane reason the equally insane military phrase, "I get paid the same for marching as I do for fighting" came into my mind. The fighting in this movie has to do with character and honor, most importantly the honor of West Point and all national military academies. Paradoxically, the commandant is also interested in preserving that honor, as evil as he is in showing it.

One of the subtleties about honor was brought to our attention as one of the cadets is set up by the evil commandant, played so wonderfully by Mark Twain himself, Hal Holbrook. This cadet does not want to get into trouble and allows himself to be used in the Honor Court against the falsely accused cadet. But when asked the hard questions by Alec Baldwin (in top form), h e painfully answers truthfully.

The twists and turns the plot takes before we know 'who dunnit' are wonderful. And Eddie Albert keeps us guessing as to which side of the good/bad coin he's going to turn up on until the last few minutes. I now own this one, and as proof of its excellence, I can't wait to see it again. Like good literature, the proof of a good movie is that you get more out of it with repeated viewings.

Did you know that if you washed out of the military academies, you were sent to Viet Nam during the 70's? That may have indeed been the case for some, but certainly not a rule.

Overlong drama with a disappointing ending *mild spoiler*

[Maciste_Brother · 5/10 · 27 May 2003]

Dress Gray could have been much better had the mini-series been cut-down to a standard film length. There's almost no reason for the series to be this long. There were too many padded moments were the characters talked and talked and talked. And for what? For an ending that doesn't resolve anything. It's a shame because the actors are good and the script is interesting. There are simply too many scenes with Hal Holbrook making long winded speeches and Alec Baldwin showing off his acting style. Production wise, DRESS GRAY is still an above average TV fare.

Dress Gray - A Unique 1980s Experience

[JLRMovieReviews · 9/10 · 3 February 2017]

Alec Baldwin stars in this TV miniseries about the murder of a gay cadet in a military academy, and he stands accused and has to clear his name. I didn't know what to expect, but this played out more like a political thriller than a drama, especially Part 2, with the investigation and dealing with the people who were tailing Alec and his girlfriend. A lot of older celebrities star in this and are good, but some like Alexis Smith were given literally nothing to do. Hal Holbrook is very memorable, and Eddie Albert was given a rare dramatic role as the victim's father who didn't know he was gay. Some reviewers say there was too much talking and that this could have been much shorter. Maybe. But on the whole, this seemed to be an exceptional miniseries with outstanding, full-force performances by all.

I went to the school that DRESS GRAY was shot at

[DJAkin · 22 January 2004]

In fact, I was there in 1985 when it was being filmed. I remember Alec Baldwin etc. As far as the movie goes, it was a great flick! I loved watching this after I graduated from New Mexico Military Inst. This movie was long but the content was good and of course, Owen Wilson and I were both cadets at this time. Perhaps this has influence on Owen?

What ever happened to David BARUM & SUSAN HESS?

[HereInVA · 10/10 · 3 February 2007]

I just saw "Dress Grey" for the first time since it was shown on TV in 1986. It got top ratings and reviews then.

On IMDb, and also searching the Web, I haven't been able to find anything about any other professional work by David Harum (who played Cadet Barham, head of the Honor Council) and Susan Hess (who played Elizabeth Hand).

According to IMDb, "Dress Grey" was Barum's only professional acting job, and Hess just disappeared after 1990.

That is disappointing, since they gave such striking performances.

"Blood and Orchids," is another favorite mini-series that I loved and it was shown on TV in 1986 also. I have two other favorite: "Evita Peron (1981)," with Faye Dunaway, and "The Thornbirds." In general, I hate mini-series and don't watch them ever.

Anyone out there with any info? Thanks!

Unexpected good

[hz2961 · 10/10 · 29 March 2020]

I saw this film years ago and besides the good acting, I was surprised that it touches a very sensitive subject: the military and gay men.

I am normally not too crazy about military films but this one is a little different and full of suspense. I can really recommend it to anyone. I, myself, have seen it three times now and did not get tired of it yet. Remember, in those days many things were still different but this story could also take place 2020. Some things have not really changed much, especially in the military and sports.

Give it a try, you might enjoy it more than expected - just like me. :-)